CVE-2026-53612
util-linux is a random collection of Linux utilities.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.15%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
util-linux is a random collection of Linux utilities. In util-linux 2.39 through 2.41.4 and 2.42 through 2.42.1, the SUID `mount` utility's `hook_owner.c` post-mount hook performs path-based `chmod()` and `lchown()` operations on a previously validated mount target. A local low-privileged user authorized by an `/etc/fstab` entry with `user` or `users` and an `X-mount.mode`, `X-mount.owner`, or `X-mount.group` option can use `renameat2(RENAME_EXCHANGE)` to race a writable ancestor of the target and redirect the privileged ownership or mode change to a root-owned path, potentially gaining root privileges. This issue is fixed in 2.41.5 and 2.42.2.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 0.15% probability · 4th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-367
- Source
- security-advisories@github.com
EPSS moved from 0.1% on 15 October 2026 to 0.2% on 26 October 2026.
References
- https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/24da33905c7115c4cbccd0afb2a469804e96467a
- https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/722c96974dd4009a334e4aee556eedaab5fb94b4
- https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/897a08c2b11dfa66975c3d24d63c7bf5f5be1a7c
- https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/d0c5adaeb3a3d823aba1377794de8f009b8152cc
- https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/releases/tag/v2.41.5
- https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/releases/tag/v2.42.2
- https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/security/advisories/GHSA-g8wm-75wr-g2vh
- https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/security/advisories/GHSA-g8wm-75wr-g2vh
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.